Self-released

KforKill – The World is Broken Review

By Treble Yell on January 31, 2017 in 2017, Danish Metal, Death Metal, Reviews, Self-released, Death Metal, 18 comments

“KforKill is either one of the most on-the-nose monikers for a death metal band you’ve ever seen or a segment on Sesame Street devised by a writer trying desperately to get fired. In this case it’s the former and as a mechanism for establishing listener expectations it does an effective job of priming you for what’s to come. It did get me thinking: can this rudimentary but direct approach to band names be applied to other styles? Black metal? CforCorpsepaint. Speed? BforBulletbelts. Power metal? DforDon’tbotherwastingyourtime.” That’s cold, man.

Undrask – Battle Through Time Review

By Dr. Wvrm on January 20, 2017 in 2017, American Metal, Melodic Death Metal, Reviews, Self-released, Melodic Death Metal, 43 comments

“With a basic internet connection offering an up-to-the-minute cornucopia of quality metal releases, snap judgments have become an unfortunate way of life. On my first listen, Undrask came off as middling melodeath in the vain of acts emulating Clayman—In Flames and peak Children of Bodom. Packaged in a blue-and-orange visage that could leave Michael Bay weak in the knees, debut Battle Through Time initially left me stifling a yawn. Sorry, better luck next time. NEXT!” A funny thing happened on the way to the review.

Need – Hegaiamas: A Song for Freedom Review

By Zephyrus on January 12, 2017 in 2017, Greek Metal, Progressive Metal, Progressive Rock, Reviews, Self-released, Progressive Metal, 36 comments

“Every genre has its tropes. Power metal’s unhealthy obsession with dragons and unicorns, for example. Thrashers shower but twice a year. Did you know that most black metal musicians are allergic to both colors and happiness? All true facts! Progressive metal is no exception.” Unicorns are the new white meat.

Rebel Wizard – Triumph of Gloom [Things You Might Have Missed 2016]

By Saunders on January 7, 2017 in 2016, Australian Metal, Black Metal, Self-released, Things You Might Have Missed 2016, Thrash Metal, Black Metal, Thrash Metal, 24 comments

“One-man projects are increasingly common in the modern metal market, as dedicated individuals take the purely DIY route and leave band politics and shenanigans to other folks. Personally, 2016 has yielded two impressive discoveries of Australian one-man projects, from the slick melo-death theatrics of Valtari to this impressively vitriolic slice of mayhem from Rebel Wizard.” You rebel scum.

The Replicate – A Selfish Dream Review

By Kronos on January 4, 2017 in 2017, American Metal, Death Metal, Progressive Death, Reviews, Self-released, Death Metal, 40 comments

“Another year, another glut of SoCal tech death coming my way. Being the world’s sole arbiter of brutality, I have to say that I’m a bit disappointed with the more traditional technical death metal scene as of late.” Because The Arbiter is disappoint, there will be much punishment.

Dormant Ordeal – We Had It Coming [Things You Might Have Missed 2016]

By Dr. Wvrm on December 22, 2016 in 2016, Polish Metal, Reviews, Self-released, Technical Death Metal, Things You Might Have Missed 2016, Technical Death Metal, 19 comments

“Since first cozying up to Dormant Ordeal one sleepy summer Saturday, the thundering masterclass has hardly left my rotation. Perhaps not the finest death metal to ever emigrate from Poland, We Had It Coming nonetheless evokes a primal emotion that renders it impossible to extract rational thought from the perpetual desire to blast this savage motherfucker from the rooftops.” But that might scare away Santa!

Far Beyond – A Frozen Flame of Ice [Things You Might Have Missed 2016]

By Diabolus in Muzaka on December 21, 2016 in 2016, German Metal, Melodic Black Metal, Reviews, Self-released, Things You Might Have Missed 2016, Melodic Black Metal, 38 comments

“Many have complained about 2016’s selection of great music, and not without reason; it can seem a bit lacking. Germany’s Far Beyond, the one-man project of Eugen Dodenhoeft, decided to roll with the simplest solution of all to 2016’s musical woes: stop releasing music that isn’t great. With this, A Frozen Flame of Ice was born. That was simple enough to fix.

Oak Pantheon – In Pieces [Things You Might Have Missed 2016]

By El Cuervo on December 21, 2016 in 2016, American Metal, Black Metal, Folk Metal, Melodic Black Metal, Reviews, Self-released, Things You Might Have Missed 2016, Black Metal, Folk Metal, 20 comments

“North America has actually developed into a great purveyor of folk metal in recent times: Wilderun; Panopticon; Nechochwen; Thrawsunblat. But a new challenger approaches.” Mournful wood.

Protest the Hero – Pacific Myth EP [Things You Might Have Missed 2016]

By Dr. Wvrm on December 19, 2016 in 2016, Canadian Metal, Metalcore, Progressive Metal, Self-released, Things You Might Have Missed 2016, Metalcore, Progressive Metal, 43 comments

“In the past, mentioning Protest the Hero among the trve resulted in long side-eyes or questions of “Are they really metal?” (I can’t wait to see how well this review goes over.) But since we let a certain fat-lipped band in here, you’re damn sure I’m going to feature my favorite Verb the Noun.” Just because you can do something, doesn’t mean you should.

Infinite Earths – Into the Void Review

By Mark Z. on December 4, 2016 in 2016, American Metal, Death Metal, Progressive Death, Reviews, Self-released, Technical Death Metal, Death Metal, Technical Death Metal, 5 comments

“In recent years I’ve shied away from tech death. Sure I loved Origin back in their Antithesis era, but these days if I want noodles I’ll just make some fucking pasta. That said, a band name as cool as Infinite Earths was tough to ignore, particularly in how it invoked notions of parallel universes and promises of sweet purple cover art with a cosmic beast devouring a planet or some shit.” Take all you can eat, but eat all you take.